Withdrawal

Article Withdrawal Policy

Rules and procedures for withdrawing submitted manuscripts and addressing published articles.

SABDA Journal recognizes that authors may occasionally need to withdraw a manuscript. To protect the integrity of scholarly publishing, all withdrawal requests must follow a transparent procedure and be handled in accordance with editorial policies and publication ethics principles.

Policy at a Glance

Authors are expected to submit original manuscripts that are not simultaneously under consideration by another journal. Once a manuscript has been submitted to SABDA Journal, the authors are expected to cooperate with the editorial and peer review process.

A withdrawal request must be submitted formally by the corresponding author, with the knowledge and agreement of all co-authors. The request must state the reason for withdrawal and identify the manuscript by its title and submission identification number.

A manuscript is not considered withdrawn merely because an author sends a request. Withdrawal is effective only after written confirmation from the Editorial Office. Authors must not submit the same manuscript to another journal while the withdrawal request remains unresolved.

Applicable to author-requested withdrawals after external peer review has begun, subject to editorial assessment and the conditions of this policy.

The fee is intended to cover administrative and editorial work already undertaken. It is not a payment for acceptance or a means of influencing editorial decisions.

The administrative withdrawal fee is not intended to penalize authors for raising legitimate concerns about research integrity or correcting serious problems with a submission. The Editor-in-Chief may review exceptional circumstances individually.

Exceptions may be considered when:

• A credible concern about research misconduct, authorship, data integrity, or research ethics requires further examination.
• A significant error is discovered that may compromise the validity or reliability of the research.
• There is evidence of unauthorized submission, identity misuse, or a material disagreement concerning authorship.
• Other exceptional circumstances justify a waiver at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.

Any exception is assessed individually and documented by the Editorial Office. Allegations of misconduct must be handled under the journal's research misconduct policy and must not be treated merely as routine withdrawal requests.

Once an article has been formally published, it becomes part of the scholarly record. Authors cannot remove a published article solely by submitting a routine manuscript withdrawal request.

Requests concerning published articles are evaluated according to the nature of the issue and the journal's publication ethics procedures. Depending on the circumstances, the appropriate action may include:

Any correction, expression of concern, or retraction will be handled in accordance with the journal's policies and applicable publication ethics guidance. The journal will maintain appropriate links between the notice and the affected article to preserve transparency and the integrity of the scholarly record.

The corresponding author should submit a written request to the SABDA Journal Editorial Office through the journal's official contact channel. The request should include:

• The manuscript title and submission identification number.
• The corresponding author's name and contact details.
• A clear explanation of the reason for withdrawal.
• Confirmation that all co-authors have been informed and agree to the request.
• Any supporting documentation relevant to the request.

The Editorial Office may request further information when necessary. Authors will receive written notification once the request has been assessed and a decision has been made.

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for overseeing withdrawal decisions and ensuring that requests are handled consistently, fairly, and in accordance with this policy. The journal may consult the Editorial Board or relevant experts when additional guidance is needed.

A withdrawal request does not prevent the journal from examining potential research misconduct or publication ethics violations. Where a serious concern is identified, the journal may initiate a separate assessment under its Allegation of Research Misconduct policy.

Important Notice for Authors

Authors should carefully consider a withdrawal request before submission. A manuscript remains under editorial consideration until the Editorial Office confirms withdrawal in writing. Submitting the same manuscript elsewhere before confirmation may constitute simultaneous submission and a breach of publication ethics.

This policy is informed by the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).