Conflict of Interest Policy
Conflict of Interest Policy
"The Shield - Research Journal of Physical Education & Sports Science" is committed to transparency and accountability in the publication process. The journal strictly follows the guidelines and flowcharts set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding conflicts of interest.
Definition of Conflict of Interest (COI)
A conflict of interest exists when an author, reviewer, or editor's personal, financial, or professional relationships could inappropriately influence or bias their judgment or actions in the publication process. This includes, but is not limited to, research design, data interpretation, peer review, or editorial decisions.
Declaration Requirements
All authors, reviewers, and editors involved in the process must disclose any potential or perceived conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest are not inherently unethical but must be declared to ensure transparency.
Required disclosures include, but are not limited to, the following types of relationships:
- Financial Support: Grants, equipment, or sponsorships from commercial entities (e.g., sports organizations, equipment brands, pharmaceutical companies).
- Employment & Consultancies: Paid consultancies, advisory board memberships, employment, or honoraria received from institutions related to the research.
- Personal Relationships: Close personal, professional, or academic relationships with athletic teams, coaching networks, or competing researchers.
- Institutional Biases: Institutional funding, commercial partnerships, or organizational affiliations that stand to gain or lose from the publication of the research.
Submission Process
Authors are required to declare all conflicts in two places:
- Submission Form: Clearly detail any conflicts of interest during the online submission process.
- Manuscript Statement: Include a concise statement in the manuscript itself under the heading “Conflict of Interest” (typically placed before the References section).
- If no potential conflicts exist, the mandatory statement is: “The authors declare that they have no competing interests.”
Examples in the Sports Sciences Context
To clarify, potential COIs in this field may include:
- A study funded by a major sportswear company that investigates the performance efficacy of their own products.
- An author who holds a senior advisory role on a national sports federation directly related to the policy or regulation being studied.
An author who receives speaking honoraria from a company whose nutritional supplement is featured in the research.
