Hansen’s comments come in the wake of fellow International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Council member Frankie Fredericks being investigated in relation to the awarding of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Ethics Commission is investigating payments a company linked to the former Namibian sprinter allegedly received three days before Rio de Janeiro was awarded the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2009.

Fredericks, a voting IOC member when Rio were awarded the Games, denies any wrongdoing.

He stepped down from the IAAF Taskforce overseeing Russia's potential reinstatement, as well as his role as chair of the IOC Evaluation Commission for the 2024 Olympics.

Fredericks, though, remains a member of the IAAF Council while their Ethics Board reviews the allegations.

Hansen, also an IAAF Council member, believes any individual under suspicion should leave all their roles.

"In my personal opinion, any individual who finds themselves under such suspicion now or in the future should step aside from all their sport-related duties until the issue is resolved as it is not good for the organisation they serve," he said.

"I want to emphasise that in the current case we are dealing with allegations and must always presume innocence until they are proven.

"However, should the allegations turn out to be true, they would reveal an extremely disappointing betrayal of athletics and its values, which would damage the sport’s image in the eyes of its supporters and the public.

"I expect the IAAF to follow its regulations strictly and come to a decision on the matter at hand as quickly as possible so that whatever the findings both credibility and trust can be restored.

"t is essential that the IAAF and all of sport continue to demonstrate commitment to the often-stated principle of zero tolerance for cheating, corruption and other forms of wrongdoing.

"At this time, I would like to underline my support for the leadership of IAAF President Sebastian Coe and all the efforts he has made to improve the governance of athletics, in particular for the very welcome constitutional amendments agreed by an overwhelming majority at the IAAF Special Congress in Monaco last December."

According to French newspaper Le Monde, French police are probing a company linked to an influential Brazilian businessman which reportedly paid $1.5 million (£1.2 million/€1.4 million) to a firm set-up by Papa Massata Diack, son of Senegal's former IAAF President Lamine Diack.

This allegedly took place shortly before Rio was chosen as the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic host at the 2009 IOC Session in Copenhagen on October 2.

At the time, Lamine Diack was a voting IOC member.

Fredericks has also been implicated after receiving funds from Papa Diack during the same period.

Documents provided by American tax authorities showed how Papa Diack transferred $300,000 (£245,000/€284,000) to a Seychelles-based offshore company called Yemli Limited in 2009, through Pamodzi Consulting.

Yemli Limited is linked to Fredericks, who referred himself to the IOC Ethics Commission when the accusations emerged on March 3.

He insists the funds are related to a marketing contract dated March 11 in  2007, due to go towards developing various events including a Relay Championships, an IAAF marketing programme, the African athletics programme, the IAAF continental programme and the African Athletics Championships.

He claims the timing in 2009 was purely coincidental.

Hansen has reiterated that European Athletics remain determined to strengthen their integrity processes.

"We in European Athletics strongly believe that we can never rest in our efforts to ensure our sport is run with full integrity, and that every measure that can be taken to prevent or reveal breaches of our rules and ethics code is taken," he said.

"We are proud of the practical work we have done in recent years including numerous decisions that improve transparency in all aspects of what we do, the upcoming introduction of a whistle-blower platform for doping and corruption matters, the development of a soon-to-be launched mandatory anti-doping education programme and our current project to examine the credibility of European Records and take necessary action.

"In addition, at our Council meeting next month we will receive a project team report containing proposals for bringing the European Athletics Constitution in line with the changes made last year by the IAAF so that these can be put to a vote at our Congress in Vilnius in October."