Plagiarism Policy

The International Journal of Yoga, Physical Education and Sports (IJYPES), published by AASTEMER (https://aastemer.org/), is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and originality in all published content. Plagiarism in any form undermines the credibility of scholarly research and is strictly prohibited. This policy outlines how IJYPES defines, detects, and addresses plagiarism to ensure ethical publishing practices in yoga, physical education, and sports sciences.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using another person’s ideas, words, data, figures, or intellectual property without proper acknowledgment or permission, presenting them as one’s own. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Copying text, images, or data from published or unpublished sources without appropriate citation.
  • Paraphrasing or summarizing another’s work without proper attribution.
  • Reusing one’s own previously published work (self-plagiarism) without disclosure or justification.
  • Using generative AI-generated content without proper acknowledgment or verification, as outlined in IJYPES’s Generative AI Policy.

2. Detection of Plagiarism

  • Screening Process: All manuscripts submitted through the online portal at https://ijypes.aastemer.org/ are screened for plagiarism using industry-standard plagiarism detection software (e.g., iThenticate) during the initial editorial assessment.
  • Manual Review: Editors and reviewers may identify potential plagiarism during the peer review process by evaluating the originality of content, citations, and references.
  • Author Responsibility: Authors must submit a similarity index report with their manuscript to confirm originality and ensure proper citation of all sources, including their own prior work.

3. Handling Plagiarism Allegations

  • Pre-Publication:
    • If plagiarism is detected during the review process, the manuscript will be rejected, and the corresponding author will be notified via the submission portal with details of the findings.
    • For minor, unintentional issues (e.g., inadequate citation), authors may be given an opportunity to revise the manuscript, at the discretion of the editor.
  • Post-Publication:
    • Allegations of plagiarism in published articles should be reported to the editorial office at editor@ijypes.aastemer.org.
    • The editorial board will conduct a thorough investigation, involving the author(s) and, if necessary, independent experts or the authors’ institution(s).
    • If plagiarism is confirmed, the article may be corrected or retracted, as outlined in IJYPES’s Article Correction, Retraction, and Removal Policy. A notice will be published, and the article will be marked as corrected or retracted, as appropriate.
  • Consequences:
    • Confirmed plagiarism may result in rejection, retraction, or a ban on future submissions from the author(s), depending on the severity.
    • Serious cases, such as intentional or extensive plagiarism, may be reported to the authors’ institution(s) or funding agencies.

4. Preventing Plagiarism

  • Author Guidelines: Authors must adhere to IJYPES’s submission guidelines, ensuring proper citation of all sources and transparency about reused material (e.g., from theses, preprints, or prior publications).
  • Generative AI Disclosure: As per the Generative AI Policy, authors must disclose and verify any AI-generated content to avoid unattributed use.
  • Education and Resources: IJYPES provides guidance on ethical writing and citation practices on its website (https://ijypes.aastemer.org/) to support authors in maintaining originality.

5. Appeals

Authors who believe a plagiarism decision was unfair may appeal as outlined in IJYPES’s Editorial Decision Appeals Policy. Appeals must provide evidence to refute the plagiarism findings and be submitted within 30 days via the submission portal or to editor@ijypes.aastemer.org.

6. Compliance with Standards

This policy aligns with guidelines from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other recognized standards for scholarly publishing. IJYPES reserves the right to take appropriate action to address plagiarism and protect the integrity of its publications.

7. Contact

For questions, concerns, or to report suspected plagiarism, please contact the editorial office at editor@ijypes.aastemer.org or visit https://ijypes.aastemer.org/. We aim to respond within five business days.

8. Policy Updates

This policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in best practices or technology. The most current version is available on the IJYPES website.

By submitting to IJYPES, authors agree to comply with this Plagiarism Policy and uphold the journal’s commitment to originality and ethical conduct in yoga, physical education, and sports sciences research.