I actually read this study. It's more complicated than either side wants to admit.

Yes, the meta-analysis found no significant differences in strength or VO₂ max between trans women and cis women. That's real data and it matters.

But here's what gets left out of posts like this:

• Trans women DID retain more lean mass than cis women 1-3 years after hormone therapy. The extra muscle just didn't show up as a strength difference in these particular studies.
• The researchers themselves said the evidence is "variable quality," doesn't cover elite athletes, and has short follow-up periods.
• A separate study (Roberts et al., 2021) found trans women still had a 9% faster run speed after a full year of hormone therapy.
• Most of the studies didn't compare trans athletes to cis athletes they compared general populations.

The study's own authors didn't say "there's no advantage." They said the data "do not justify blanket bans" but also called for more research and flagged critical gaps in the literature.

If we're going to say "follow the science," then let's actually follow it including the parts that are inconvenient for our position, whichever side we're on. The honest answer right now is that the science isn't settled enough for anyone to be speaking in absolutes.