Objective  To evaluate the methodology quality and report quality of meta-analysis articles published in Chinese sport core journals, and to put forward improvement suggestions.

  Method  16 sport core periodicals and 1 medicine core periodical were electronically searched to collect published meta-analysis papers through CNKI from 1993 to 2019. The last retrieval date was January 5, 2020. Two reviewers screened the literature independently and used the AMSTAR 2 and PRISMA to evaluate the methodology and report quality of the included literature.

  Results  A total of 70 meta-analyses were included. Both the quantity and quality of meta-analyses showed a gradual increase from 2005 to 2019. The main problems existing in methodology quality include no pre-plan of meta-analysis or a comprehensive literature search or a list of excluded documents and reasons, and no paying attention to the impact of research quality and bias risk on the results of the combined effect or the reasons for adopting a particular research design type and related funding, etc. The quality problems of the report include the partial structural summary, weak quality control of the research method and the incomplete research results, as well as the ignorance of the risk of bias and the summary of evidence on discussion part, etc.

  Conclusion  There are still some problems in the methodology and report quality of the meta-analysis literature published in sports science.Therefore meta-analysis authors should follow AMSTAR 2, PRISMA or similar specifications. The review policy on the requirements of meta-analysis report can be issued by journals in order to improve the standard and quality of meta-analysis, and schools should offer courses on meta-analysis theory and practice.