Withdrawal Policy

The Archives of Biotechnology and Biomedicine recognizes that in rare circumstances, authors may wish to withdraw their manuscript after submission. To preserve the integrity of the scientific record and ensure fair use of editorial and peer review resources, the journal has established a clear and transparent Withdrawal Policy. This policy defines acceptable reasons for withdrawal, outlines procedures, and specifies consequences for inappropriate or unethical withdrawals.

Definition of Withdrawal

Withdrawal refers to the removal of a manuscript from consideration or from the publication process before final publication. A withdrawal may occur:

• Pre-review withdrawal: Authors request withdrawal after initial submission but before the peer review process begins.
• Post-review withdrawal: Authors request withdrawal after the peer review process has started but before acceptance.
• Post-acceptance withdrawal: Authors request withdrawal after a manuscript has been accepted but before publication.

Acceptable Reasons for Withdrawal

Manuscript withdrawal is considered valid in the following cases:

• Discovery of serious errors or flaws in the data that invalidate results.
• Submission to the wrong journal due to scope mismatch.
• Overlapping submission detected unintentionally and corrected by authors.
• Authorial disputes that prevent fair representation of contributions.
• Requests from institutions or funders based on ethical or legal grounds.

Withdrawals based on dissatisfaction with peer review outcomes or attempts to submit to a higher impact journal after acceptance are considered unethical.

Unacceptable Withdrawal Practices

Inappropriate withdrawals damage the integrity of scholarly publishing and waste editorial resources. The following practices are not tolerated:

• Withdrawing a manuscript simply due to rejection elsewhere and immediate resubmission without addressing concerns.
• Withdrawing after acceptance to pursue publication in another journal (“parallel submission” strategy).
• Failure to respond to editorial communications, resulting in “silent withdrawal.”
• Using withdrawal requests as leverage against editorial decisions.

Withdrawal Procedure

1. The corresponding author must submit a formal withdrawal request via email to the editorial office, clearly stating the reason for withdrawal.
2. All co-authors must provide written consent for the withdrawal.
3. The Editor-in-Chief reviews the request and decides whether to approve it based on this policy.
4. If approved, the editorial office formally confirms withdrawal in writing to all authors.

Unauthorized or unexplained withdrawals may result in sanctions.

Consequences of Unethical Withdrawal

In cases of unethical withdrawal:

• The manuscript is marked as withdrawn in the journal’s records with reasons documented.
• The authors may be blacklisted from submitting new manuscripts for a period (typically 1–3 years).
• Institutions or funders may be notified of the misconduct.
• Future submissions from the same authors may be subjected to stricter scrutiny.

Post-Acceptance Withdrawal

Withdrawal after acceptance is particularly serious. Once a manuscript is accepted, substantial resources have already been invested in editing, formatting, and scheduling. Withdrawal at this stage is only permitted under exceptional circumstances, such as discovery of critical errors or ethical issues. Authors requesting withdrawal post-acceptance may be charged an administrative fee to cover editorial and processing costs.

Corrections vs. Withdrawal

In many cases, errors identified post-submission can be corrected through revision rather than withdrawal. Authors are encouraged to work with editors to revise manuscripts rather than withdraw them unnecessarily. Withdrawal should be a last resort, used only when corrections cannot salvage the scientific integrity of the work.

Ethical Considerations

The journal follows COPE guidelines in handling withdrawals. Transparency and fairness guide all decisions. When necessary, withdrawal notices may be posted on the journal’s website to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record. Such notices provide an explanation without compromising author reputations unnecessarily.

Educational Role

Recognizing that some inappropriate withdrawals arise from lack of awareness rather than malintent, the journal takes an educational approach when dealing with first-time offenders, particularly early-career researchers. Authors are provided with guidance on ethical submission practices to prevent recurrence.

Conclusion

Withdrawal of manuscripts should be rare and ethically justified. The Archives of Biotechnology and Biomedicine provides this Withdrawal Policy to balance the rights of authors with the responsibilities of editors and the expectations of readers. By clearly defining procedures and consequences, we safeguard the fairness, transparency, and trustworthiness of the publication process.