Retraction Policy
1. Scope
This policy applies to all published articles in VTM. VTM follows the COPE Retraction Guidelines (COPE Retraction Policy).
2. Grounds for Retraction
Editors may retract a publication if there is clear evidence that:
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Findings are unreliable due to major errors (miscalculation, experimental error) or fabrication/falsification (data manipulation, image manipulation).
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The work constitutes plagiarism.
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Findings have been previously published elsewhere without proper attribution, disclosure, permission, or justification (redundant publication).
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Material or data are used without authorisation.
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Copyright infringement or serious legal issues (libel, privacy) exist.
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Research is unethical.
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Publication occurred through compromised or manipulated peer review.
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Authors failed to disclose a major competing interest (conflict of interest) affecting editorial decisions.
3. Retraction Notice Requirements
Retraction notices should:
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Be linked to the retracted article in all online versions.
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Clearly identify the article (title, authors).
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Be labeled clearly as a retraction.
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Be published promptly to minimize harm.
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Be freely accessible to all readers.
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State who is retracting the article.
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State the reason(s) for retraction.
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Be objective, factual, and avoid inflammatory language.
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Retained article metadata (DOI, citation) remains intact for the scholarly record.
4. When Retractions Are Not Appropriate
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Authorship disputes without invalid results.
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Minor errors where corrections suffice.
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Inconclusive evidence or pending institutional investigation.
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Undisclosed conflicts that are unlikely to affect interpretation.
5. Responsibility
Retractions are issued by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the Editorial Board and, when applicable, institutional authorities.
6. Transparency and Record Maintenance
All retractions are permanent, linked to the original article, and documented to maintain the integrity of the scientific record.
