Authors who wish to withdraw a submitted manuscript must make a written request to the Editor through the corresponding author.
The request should clearly state:
· manuscript title;
· manuscript/reference number;
· corresponding author's details; and
· reason for withdrawal.
Withdrawal before peer review
A manuscript may normally be withdrawn before the peer-review process has commenced, subject to confirmation by the editorial office.
Withdrawal after peer review has commenced
Withdrawal after peer review has started shall be considered by the Editor on a case-by-case basis.
The journal may decline withdrawal where there are unresolved concerns involving:
· plagiarism;
· duplicate or simultaneous submission;
· authorship disputes;
· research misconduct;
· fabrication or falsification;
· copyright infringement; or
· other publication-ethics issues.
Once an article has been formally accepted or published, it shall not ordinarily be treated as a routine withdrawal. Any necessary action shall be dealt with under the journal's Corrections and Retractions Policy.